Cylinder lock



June 10, 1958 s, E L 2,837,908

CYLINDER LOCK Filed July 26. 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 10, 1958 s,SEGAL 2,837,908

' CYLINDER LOCK Filed July 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 v plug.

United States atent CYLINDER LOCK Samuel Segal, New York, N. Y.

Application July 26, 1954, Serial No. 445,571

Claims. (Cl. 70 367) This invention relates to a cylinder lock, andparticularly to means for facilitating the assembly and disassembly ofsuch locks.

The present invention is advantageous in connection with the originalassembly of the component parts at the factory and also in connectionwith subsequent operations by locksmiths when they are required todisassemble and reassemble the locks. Although the drawing illustratesrim locks it will be understood that the invention may be used withmortise locks as Well.

It is an object of this invention to provide inexpensive means forsimplifying the assembly anddisassembly of cylinder locks.

A further object is to provide means that may be applied easily tosecurely maintain the plug within the cylinder and the tumblers withinthe plug.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent upon reading thefollowing specification, taken 'in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings showing two preferred illustrative embodiments of theinvention, in which:

Fig. l is a rear end elevational view of a cylinder lock embodying theinvention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view showing the plug in dotted lines;

Fig. 3 is a rear end elevational view of the lock with the .guard platepartially removed from'the plug;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary cross sectional view, taken along the line 4-4of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a-perspective view of a lock cylinder constructed inaccordance with the invention; A

Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of a lock plugadapted to fit in thecylinder of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view of an angular retaining plate forholding the tumblers in the lock;

Fig. 8 is a detail perspective view of the guard for preventingaccidental separation of the lock parts;

Fig. 9 is a rear perspective view of another embodiment having adifferent guard member;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary rear perspective view of the lock of Fig. 9with the sliding guard bar removed;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary rear perspective view of the lock with theguard removed therefrom;

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary rear perspective view of the lock with theangular retaining plate removed;

Fig. 13 is a detail perspective view of the angular retaining plate forholding the tumblers in the lock;

Fig. 14 is a detail perspective view of the guard for preventingaccidental separation of the lock parts;

Fig. 15 is a detail perspective view of the guard bar for preventingrotation of the guard relative to the plug;

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary plan view of the guard Fig. 17 is a rear endelevational view of the plug; and

Fig. 18 is a'fragmentary side elevational view of the Referring to Figs.1 to 8 of the drawings, the reference numeral 2 indicates the lockcylinder having a rim 3 at its front end and provided with an axial bore4 adapted to receive a plug 5. The cylinder is alsoprovided with alongitudinal recess 6 extending inwardly from its peripheral surface andwith a plurality of closely spaced bores 7 extending from the bottom of.rescess 6 to the axial bore 4. One longitudinal edge 8 of the recess isperpendicular to the bottom of the recess and the other longitudinaledge 9 is undercut to provide an angular wall. A rim 10 integral withthe rear face 11 of the cylinder projects rearwardly' from the face 11and extends around a major portion of the circumference of bore 4. Theends 12 and 13v of rim 10 define a gap of substantially the same widthas the width of recess 6 and are aligned transversely with thelongitudinal edges of recess 6.

The plug 5 is slidable within bore 4 and is provided with a plurality oftransverse bores 14 of the same diameter as the bores 7 of cylinder 2.The bores 14 extend from the peripheral surface of the plug to theupperedge of a keyway 15, as viewed in Fig. 6, and are arranged toregister with bores 7 when the keyway 15 is in the position shown inFigs. 1 and 3. When the bores 7 and 14- are aligned a tumbler, driver,and spring (not shown) are inserted into each bore and an angularretaining plate 16 is positioned in the recess 6 to hold the tumblers,drivers and springs in place. The plate 16 may be slid longitudinallyinto the recess until the end piece 17 abuts the rear face 11 of thecylinder. The end 17 will then engage the ends 12 and 13 of rim 10. Theretaining plate may be positioned by inserting one edge in the undercut9 and then pivoting the retaining plate about undercut 9 as a fulcrumuntil the opposite longitudinal edge of the retaining plate abuts edge 8of the recess. This' pivotal movement of .the retaining plate ispossible only when the end 17 is spaced outwardly from surface 11sufficiently to clear rim 10. When the edges of the retainingplateengage the edges of the recess'the retaining plate is pushedlongitudinally until the end 17 engages the gap between the ends of therim 10. The outer edge of end 17 is curved concavely, as indicated at18, to conform to the circumferential curvature of bore flwhich itabuts.

The rear end of plug 5 is cut away to provide a boss 19 which projectsbeyond the outer edge of rim 10when the plug is positioned in thecylinder 2. The surface 20 of plug 5 is flush with the outer edge of rim10. The opposite edges of boss 19 are undercut to form grooves 21 for apurpose hereinafter disclosed. The upper end of boss 19 between thegrooves 21 abuts the concavely curved surface 18 of the end 17 of theangular retaining plate 16. When the plug 5 is rotated by turning a keyin the keyway 15, as in the normal use of the lock, it has a tendency torotate the end 17 to displace the retaining plate angularly from itsproper position. The engagement of the ends 12 and 13 of rim 10 with theopposite edges of the end 17 prevents such rotation. The plug 5 isprovided with a spring pressed pin 22 projecting outwardly from thesurface 20. The pin '22 has an enlarged head 23 seated in a recess 24with a spring 25 bearing against the bottom of the recess and the head23 of the pin. The upper edge of the recess may be peened inwardly, asindicated at 26, or reduced in size by a suitable insert, to keep thepin from falling out of the recess.

The front end of bore 4 is counteroored, as indicated at 27, and thefront end of plug 5 is enlarged, as indicated at 28, to fit in thecounterbore and limit the longitudinal movement of the plug inwardly ofthe cylinderl When the plug 5 is positioned in the axial bore ofcylinder 2 as far 'as it can go, with the enlargement'Zfi in counterbore27,'the plug is held against longitudinal movement in the oppositedirection by a guard 29. One end of the guard has a recess 30 providingtwo fingers 31 and 32. The width of recess 30 is equal to the thicknessof the undercut portion of boss 19 so that the inner edges of fingers 31and 32 fit within the grooves 21. When the guard 29 is slid intoposition the spring pressed finger 22 is depressed so that finger 31 canslide over it. The finger 31 is provided with an aperture 33 into whichthe finger 22 snaps when aligned therewith. The interengagement offinger 22 and aperture 33 prevents accidental displacement. of theguard. In order to remove the guard it is necessary to depress the pin22 and slide the guard off the boss 19.

The guard is long enough so that it overlies the end 17 of retainingmember 16 to prevent displacement of the retaining member.

The lock is assembled by sliding plug 5 into bore 4. Thetumblers,drivers, and springs are then inserted into bores 7 and 14. Theretaining plate 16 is then positioned in recess 6, and the guard 29 isslid on boss 19 until pin 22 engages aperture 33. The disassembly isjust as simple since the steps are merely reversed.

In the embodiment of Figs. 9 to 18 cylinder 2 and the angular retainingplate 16 are the same as in the embodiment previously described, and thedescription of the parts will not be repeated. The same referencenumerals are used to indicate the same parts.

The rear end of plug 5' extends beyond the surface 11 of cylinder 2 andis provided with a circumferential groove 34 having its inner edgesurface flush with the, outer surface of rim 10. A transverse recess 35across the center portion of the rear end of plug 5 extends inwardlyfrom the rear end of the plug and its bottom is flush with the outeredge surface of circumferential recess 34.

A guard 36 is provided at one end with an opening 37 of substantiallythe same circumference as the projecting end of plug 5. The guard has ashank 38 extending laterally outward from one edge of the annularportion surrounding the opening 37. The shank is provided with alongitudinal recess 39 of substantially the same width as recess 35.Both edges of recess 39 are undercut, as indicated at 40, for a purposehereinafter disclosed. The annular portion of guard 36 is provided witha pair of ears 41 extending into diametrically opposite edges of theopening 37. The cars 41 are aligned generally with recess 39, but theirinner edges 42 are curved to conform to the curvature of the peripheralsurface of groove 34 in which they fit.

The guard 36 is positioned on the rear end of plug 5' by holding it atright angles to the slot 35 and moving it inwardly with the cars 41fitting intoopposite ends of recess 35. Rotation of guard 36 through 90locks ears 41 in groove 34 and aligns recesses 35' and 39. A guard bar43 is then slid into recesses 39 and 35 to prevent relative rotationbetween the guard 36 and plug 5. bar 43 is split longitudinally adjacentone end, as indicated at 44, to provide some resilience, and the edgesopposite the slit end are extended outwardly at an angle, as indicatedat 45, to fit in the undercut portions 40 of recess 39 so that the guidebar will fit snugly enough so that it will not be accidentally displacedfrom the guard 36. As in the previous embodiment, the shank 38 of theguard overlies the end 17 of the angular retaining plate so that all thelock parts are held securely.

While I have described two preferred embodiments of my invention indetail, it will be understood that the de scription thereof isillustrative, rather than restrictive, as many details may be modifiedor changed without departing from the spirit or scope of my invention.Accordingly, I do not desire to be restricted to the exact constructiondescribed, except as limited by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A lock comprising a cylinder having an axial bore for reception of arotatable plug and means on the front surface of said cylinder forlimiting the inward movement The guard of said plug, a rotatable plugpositioned in said bore with an end portion projecting beyond the rearsurface of said cylinder, the projecting end of said plug being providedwith a groove having an inner edge flush with the rear surface of saidcylinder, said cylinder and said plug having aligned transverse bores toreceive lock tumblers, a re taining plate engaging said cylinder toretain tumblers in said transversebores, said retaining plate having anangular end piece engaging the rear surface of said cylinder, said plughaving a tendency to rotate the angular end piece and to therebydisplace said retaining plate angularly when said plug is rotated in thenormal operation of said lock, projections on the rear surface of saidcylinder engaging opposite edges of said angular end piece to preventrotation thereof, and a guard engaging with said groove and overlyingthe angular end piece of said retaining plate to retain said plug andsaid retaining plate against separation from said cylinder.

2. A lock comprising a cylinder having an axial bore for reception of arotatable plug, the front end of said axial bore having a counterbore tolimit the inward movement of said plug, a rim projecting from the rearsurface of said cylinder and substantially surrounding the rear end ofsaid bore, said rim being provided with a gap, a rotatable plug insertedinto said bore from the front end thereof, said cylinder and plug havinga plurality of aligned transverse bores adapted to receive tumblerstherein, said cylinder having a longitudinal recess adjacentcorresponding ends of said bores, one longitudinal edge of said recessbeing undercut, an angular retaining plate positioned in saidlongitudinal recess to cover one end of each of said transverse bores,one edge of said retaining plate engaging said undercut, said retainingplate having one end extending into said gap in said rim to'facilitateholding said retaining plate against movement relative to said cylinder,said plug having a rear end projecting beyond said rim, the projectingend of said plug being provided with a groove having an inner edge fiushwith the outer surface of said rim, and a guard engaging said groove andoverlying a portion of said retaining plate to retain said plug and saidretaining plate against separation from said cylinder.

3. A look comprising a cylinder having an axial bore for reception of arotatable plug, a rotatable plug positioned in said axial bore, saidcylinder and said plug having aligned transverse bores to receive locktumblers, said cylinder having a longitudinally extending recessoverlying the open ends of said transverse bores, an angular retainingplate having its longitudinal edges engaged with the edges of the recessin said cylinder to retain tumblers in said transverse bores, said plughaving a boss projecting from its rear end beyond the rear surface ofsaid cylinder, a spring pressed pin projecting from the rear end of saidplug adjacent said boss, the opposite edges of said boss having undercutgrooves, and a guard overlying one end of said retaining plate andslidably engaged with said grooves to hold said plug and said retainingplate from separation from said cylinder, said guard having in apertureengaged with said spring pressed pin to prevent accidental displacementof said guard.

4. A lock as described in claim 2, said groove extendingcircumferentially around said projecting end, and said guard having anannular portion provided with ears fitting into said circumferentialgroove to hold said plug against separation from said cylinder.

5. A lock as described in claim 2, said groove extendingcircumferentially around said projecting end, said projecting end ofsaid plug having a transverse recess, said guard having an annularportion fitting over the projecting end of said plug and having inwardlyextending ears fitting in said groove, said guard having a shankprovided with a recess aligned with said transverse recess, and a guardbar ment of said guard.

5 6 6. A lock as described in claim 2, said groove extending ReferencesCited in the tile of this patent circumferentially around saidprojecting end, said project- UNITED STATES PATENTS ing end of said plughaving a transverse recess, said guard having an annular portion fittingover the project- 1'255473 Shaw 1918 ing end of said plug and havinginwardly extending 5 1598551 Braumng 1926 ears fitting in said groove toprevent separation of said 2942025 schlage May plug fromsaid cylinder,said guard having a shank en- 2135'323 Branungson 3 gageable with saidretaining plate to prevent accidental I FOREIGN PATENTS displacement ofsaid plate, said shank provided with a 9479 Austria Nov 10 1923 recessaligned with said transverse recess, and a guard bar 10 u slidable intosaid recesses to prevent accidental displace ment of said guard.

